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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12

Simultaneous amplification of terahertz difference frequencies by an injection-seeded semiconductor laser amplifier at 850 nm

Two-frequency operation of an 850 nm semiconductor optical amplifier was achieved by simultaneously injection seeding it with two diode lasers. The two frequencies could be independently amplified without strong interference when they were separated by more than 10 GHz, and the spectral purity was preserved by the amplification process. At frequency differences below 10 GHz, unbalanced two-frequency output was observed, which can be explained by a two-mode interaction driven by the refractive index modulation at the beat frequency. The laser system is suitable for the difference-frequency generation of coherent terahertz radiation in ultra-fast photoconductors or nonlinear optical media.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

X-Band Ultra-Low Noise Maser Amplifier Performance

Noise temperature measurements of an 8440 MHz ultra-low noise maser amplifier (ULNA) have been performed at sub-atmospheric, liquid helium temperatures. The traveling wave maser operated while immersed in a liquid helium bath. The lowest input noise temperature measured was 1.23 plus or minus 0.16 K at a physical temperature of 1.60 kelvin. At this physical temperature the observed gain per unit length of ruby was 4.6 dB/cm, and the amplifier had a 3 dB-bandwidth of 76 MHz.

ultra-low noise maser amplifier X-band maser syste↗

Beyond G-band : a 235 GHz InP MMIC amplifier

We present results on an InP monolithic millimeter- wave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifier having 10-dB gain at 235 GHz. We designed this circuit and fabricated the chip in Northrop Grumman Space Technology's (NGST) 0.07- m InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) process. Using a WR3 (220-325 GHz) waveguide vector network analyzer system interfaced to waveguide wafer probes, we measured this chip on-wafer for -parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first time a WR3 waveguide on-wafer measurement system has been used to measure gain in a MMIC amplifier above 230 GHz.

high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs)↗

Low Noise Amplifier Receivers from Millimeter Wave Atmospheric Remote Sensing

We currently achieve 3.4 dB noise figure at 183GHz and 2.1 dB noise figure at 90 GHz with our MMIC low noise amplifiers (LNAs) in room temperature. These amplifiers and the receivers we have built using them made it possible to conduct highly accurate airborne measurement campaigns from the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, develop millimeter wave internally calibrated radiometers for altimeter radar path delay correction, and build prototypes of large arrays of millimeter receivers for a geostationary interferometric sounder. We use the developed millimeter wave receivers to measure temperature and humidity profiles in the atmosphere and in hurricanes as well as to characterize the path delay error in ocean topography altimetry.

millimeter wave radiometers↗

Radar Waveform Pulse Analysis Measurement System for High-Power GaN Amplifiers

This work presents a measurement system to characterize the pulsed response of high-power GaN amplifiers for use in space-based SAR platforms that require very strict amplitude and phase stability. The measurement system is able to record and analyze data on three different time scales: fast, slow, and long, which allows for greater detail of the mechanisms that impact amplitude and phase stability. The system is fully automated through MATLAB, which offers both instrument control capability and in-situ data processing. To validate this system, a high-power GaN HEMT amplifier operated in saturation was characterized. The fast time results show that variations to the amplitude and phase are correlated to DC supply transients, while long time characteristics are correlated to temperature changes.

high-power amplifier (HPA)↗

Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers for Space-based Science and Exploration

We present current and near-term uses of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers for NASA science and spacecraft applications. Fiber lasers and amplifiers offer numerous advantages for the deployment of instruments on exploration and science remote sensing satellites. Ground-based and airborne systems provide an evolutionary path to space and a means for calibration and verification of space-borne systems. NASA fiber-laser-based instruments include laser sounders and lidars for measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide, oxygen, water vapor and methane and a pulsed or pseudo-noise (PN) code laser ranging system in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength band. The associated fiber transmitters include high-power erbium, ytterbium, and neodymium systems and a fiber laser pumped optical parametric oscillator. We discuss recent experimental progress on these systems and instrument prototypes for ongoing development efforts.

Fiber laser↗

Spectrally Efficient GaN High-Power Amplifier for Lunar Communications

The paper demonstrates a spectrally efficient Ka-band GaN MMIC based high-power amplifier (HPA) that uses a waveguide 4-port magic-tee as a 2-way power combiner to combine the output from two lower power amplifier circuits. The paper presents for the prototype HPA the measured output power, gain, power added efficiency, error vector magnitude for Offset-QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK, and 16QAM waveforms, waveform spectrum, and out-of-band spectral regrowth. The HPA is intended for establishing a direct communication link between assets on the lunar surface/orbit and Earth.

Gallium nitride↗

Field-effect transistor improves electrometer amplifier

An electrometer amplifier uses a field effect transistor to measure currents of low amperage. The circuit, developed as an ac amplifier, is used with an external filter which limits bandwidth to achieve optimum noise performance.

Munoz, R.↗

Tiny biomedical amplifier combines high performance, low power drain

Transistorized, portable, high performance amplifier with low power drain facilitates biomedical studies on mobile subjects. This device, which utilizes a differential input to obtain a common-mode rejection, is used for amplifying electrocardiogram and electromyogram signals.

Deboo, G. J.↗

Field effect transistors improve buffer amplifier

Unity gain buffer amplifier with a Field Effect Transistor /FET/ differential input stage responds much faster than bipolar transistors when operated at low current levels. The circuit uses a dual FET in a unity gain buffer amplifier having extremely high input impedance, low bias current requirements, and wide bandwidth.

Source record↗

Adaptive control circuit prevents amplifier saturation

Adaptive control circuit prevents saturation of push-pull output amplifiers used in low-power, low-torque suspension system. The adaptive control circuit senses how near the output amplifiers are to saturation and sets the B voltage in such a way as to keep them just clear of saturation.

Nondsieck, A. J.↗

Improved compensation circuit for direct-coupled amplifiers

Drift- and offset-control circuit compensates the inherent temperature drift and offset of a closed-loop feedback amplifier. It overcomes the disadvantages of conventional chopping circuits used to minimize drift in low-level, direct-coupled amplifiers.

Breurer, D. R.↗

Noise figure measurement concept for acoustic amplifiers

Optimum length buffer crystals are used with an amplification section for measuring the noise figure for acoustic amplifiers. Measuring the time required to saturate with noise a signal, which is reflected back and forth in the circuit, gives a direct measurement of the amplifiers noise figure.

Johnson, V. R.↗

Improved radiographic image amplifier panel

Layered image amplifier for radiographic /X ray and gamma ray/ applications, combines very high radiation sensitivity with fast image buildup and erasure capabilities by adding a layer of material that is both photoconductive and light-emitting to basic image amplifier and cascading this assembly with a modified Thorne panel.

Brown, R. L., Sr.↗